Shafts for my Bender

[Poolshootindon]

I am looking for feedback from anyone who has had a shaft made for a Bender..Mike wants $250-$300 per shaft..Seems like a lot of money just for a shaft...Out of my price range..If i had the original shafts taken down to 12.75mm and had a 9"to11" taper (at this point the shafts a 13mm+ and the shafts start to taper at 6") would this affect the play of the cue?..I just can't get used to the short taper..If i am unable to make a trade or sell the cue i would like to keep the cue and do the above..Any feedback will be greatly appreciated...Thanks...Don

 

[JimmyRayK]

Bender shafts

I am looking for feedback from anyone who has had a shaft made for a Bender..Mike wants $250-$300 per shaft..Seems like a lot of money just for a shaft...Out of my price range..If i had the original shafts taken down to 12.75mm and had a 9"to11" taper (at this point the shafts a 13mm+ and the shafts start to taper at 6") would this affect the play of the cue?..I just can't get used to the short taper..If i am unable to make a trade or sell the cue i would like to keep the cue and do the above..Any feedback will be greatly appreciated...Thanks...Don

Don, the hard part about finding a shaft for a Bender cue is the unusual pin he uses. No one out there uses anything that is remotely similar. I think Mike makes a tremendous cue, but I have never understood why he picked a pin that was so unique. I will listen around, but I am not sure who might have the correct 3/8x14 (I think that is right) tap to make a shaft. $250 may sound like a lot for a shaft, but that is getting to be more and more the standard from top cuemakers. A lot of times, and I have heard this from more than one top cuemaker, is that they really don't like making shafts. So if you want one, you're going to have to pay for it.

Good luck, Jim

 

[8-ball Rat]

Don, the hard part about finding a shaft for a Bender cue is the unusual pin he uses. No one out there uses anything that is remotely similar. I think Mike makes a tremendous cue, but I have never understood why he picked a pin that was so unique. I will listen around, but I am not sure who might have the correct 3/8x14 (I think that is right) tap to make a shaft. $250 may sound like a lot for a shaft, but that is getting to more and more the standard from top cuemakers. A lot of times, and I have heard from more than one, is that they really don't like making shafts. So if you want one, you're going to have to pay for it.

Good luck, Jim

Nail on the head, Jimmy.......$250, believe it or not, is a pretty good price for a cue from an "A-list" cuemaker. Some are less....some are more.

The beauty of having a shaft made by one of these gentleman/ladies is that it is "tuned" precisely to what it should be, for the butt section it's going on. While there are a ton of cuemakers out there that make a great product....if you want all the playability from your cue, for what it is, I'm a firm believer in going to the souce of that cue to maximize how it'll treat you on the tables.

 

[Poolshootindon]

Shafts..

Thanks for the info Jimmy and Rat..What is your opinion on having the shafts turned down and the taper extended? Don

 

[8-ball Rat]

Thanks for the info Jimmy and Rat..What is your opinion on having the shafts turned down and the taper extended? Don

Hard to say, Don. Having owned a Bender, once upon a time....I liked the taper the way it was.

If you're not pleased with yours, I would go ahead and have the taper extended to suit your desires. That way, at least you still have the original shafts.

I do think it'll change the way the cue plays, flexes, etc......but if you know the specs you like, and change your Bender shaft to suit those specs, you should be pleased with the result.

JMO - but since it's your cue, you do what YOU want to make it right in your hands.

 

[wawacue]

I am looking for feedback from anyone who has had a shaft made for a Bender..Mike wants $250-$300 per shaft..Seems like a lot of money just for a shaft...Out of my price range..If i had the original shafts taken down to 12.75mm and had a 9"to11" taper (at this point the shafts a 13mm+ and the shafts start to taper at 6") would this affect the play of the cue?..I just can't get used to the short taper..If i am unable to make a trade or sell the cue i would like to keep the cue and do the above..Any feedback will be greatly appreciated...Thanks...Don

poolshootindon

if you feel $250 - $300 per shaft is high from Mike Bender. maybe you should try to contact Ed Young or David Kersenbrock, they both work in the same shop & their shaft play just as good as Bender. they charge about $150-200 per shaft depends on how much inlay on your shaft joint but if it just a plain joint with a silver ring, it will probably cost $180.00. anyway, hope this might help.

wawacue

 

[JimmyRayK]

Shaft

Thanks for the info Jimmy and Rat..What is your opinion on having the shafts turned down and the taper extended? Don

I agree with Mark. The shaft should feel exactly the way you want it to. At the same time, remember that you will be effecting the performance. Especially the amount of deflection. I like an extremely long 14-15 inch taper. But there is definitely an increase in deflection. May not be a bad thing, but just to be noted.

Jim

 

[alpine9430]

I agree with Mark. The shaft should feel exactly the way you want it to. At the same time, remember that you will be effecting the performance. Especially the amount of deflection. I like an extremely long 14-15 inch taper. But there is definitely an increase in deflection. May not be a bad thing, but just to be noted.

Jim

Jim

Perfectly Said!
I own both a Black Boar and a Mike Bender where the BB is my Primary Cue and the Bender is the first alternate. The BB is 12.75mm with 12-14" pro taper and the Bender is 13mm with a 6" taper.

I generally describe the BB as firm but with a lively hit (or more deflection to account for when off the center line of the cue ball) but this cue compliments my style of play very well. The Bender is stiff, solid and very reliable on days when I am not looking for a lot of off center cue ball strokes. Love them both and have to remember which cue is in grip to account for the differences in play.

Mike does make an awesome cue and the $250 is a bargain compared to the cost of the shafts for some of my other cues.
Myron

 

[PDX]

I shot with Don's Bender a week ago, and it is a great hitting cue. The points are beautiful and if I wasn't so attached to my Runde, I would have traded in a heart beat. Don, have you thought about asking Bender to re-taper your original shaft to your specifications? I don't see why he would be opposed. Just a thought and probably a lot cheaper than a new shaft.

 

[masonh]

don i have had 3 Benders and the original taper at 13mm is definitely a little stout;however,if you take them down with the same taper to about 12.75mm they play much nicer and i think you will like them.just try one.i love mine at 12.75mm.still stiff but the parabolic taper just seems to play better a little thinner.

 

[shotmaker]

Kirsenbrock

poolshootindon

if you feel $250 - $300 per shaft is high from Mike Bender. maybe you should try to contact Ed Young or David Kersenbrock, they both work in the same shop & their shaft play just as good as Bender. they charge about $150-200 per shaft depends on how much inlay on your shaft joint but if it just a plain joint with a silver ring, it will probably cost $180.00. anyway, hope this might help.

wawacue

I'm not sure where you've been, but I think David Kirsenbrock died years ago

 

[Poolshootindon]

Thanks for all the input..

I really appreciate all the feedback on this thread...Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to give me there feedback..I just got a new camera so i may post a few pic's of my Bender just to see if the pic's come out good on this site...Thanks again...Don Iverson

 

[masonh]

Kersenbrock is far from dead.He actually still makes a few cues.

 

[vicdotcom]

From what I hear it wont be a problem to sand the thickness down to 12.75mm but having the shaft re-tapered from 6 inches to 9-11 can be a real problem. From what I udnerstand its not just sanding the wood down to redo the taper. It needs to be cut and if there is any wobble in the shaft (even if you cant see it with the naked eye) it can ruin the shaft. If you do get it done, have it done by a professional who will guarantee to replace the shaft (bender shaft not any replacement shaft) if they mess it up.

Vic

 

[DEACON]

Don, Ed young is making shafts lately for cues other than just for his own. I have purchased 3 in the last month and a half and his work is not only top notch but he would also be very familiar with the pin since Omega dpk used the same. Its hard to beat his fit and finish and his prices are much better than Bender. Ive had cues from each and I liked my Youngs much more. If interested his number is 312-519-2505. Take care and good luck, Deacon

 

[poolcuemaster]

From what I hear it wont be a problem to sand the thickness down to 12.75mm but having the shaft re-tapered from 6 inches to 9-11 can be a real problem. From what I udnerstand its not just sanding the wood down to redo the taper. It needs to be cut and if there is any wobble in the shaft (even if you cant see it with the naked eye) it can ruin the shaft. If you do get it done, have it done by a professional who will guarantee to replace the shaft (bender shaft not any replacement shaft) if they mess it up.

Vic

Tell me what cuemaker would warranty someone else's shaft not to warp when turned smaller and would be willing to buy another Bender shaft to replace it with for $250. Nobody will do something crazy like that but I think the way to go is just turn down one shaft and try it, If you don't like it now you don't have much too lose.--Leonard

 

[JoeyA]

I am looking for feedback from anyone who has had a shaft made for a Bender..Mike wants $250-$300 per shaft..Seems like a lot of money just for a shaft...Out of my price range..If i had the original shafts taken down to 12.75mm and had a 9"to11" taper (at this point the shafts a 13mm+ and the shafts start to taper at 6") would this affect the play of the cue?..I just can't get used to the short taper..If i am unable to make a trade or sell the cue i would like to keep the cue and do the above..Any feedback will be greatly appreciated...Thanks...Don

Don, I reduce the diameter of all of my Bender cues. Like you I can't get used to the shorter tapers. Maybe if I played straight pool a lot the shorter stiff taper would be better but I play mostly one pocket or nine ball and while some people like a 13MM tip for a nine ball playing cue, lat year's U.S. Open Nine Ball Champion likes his taper much smaller than that.

My taper is practically straight for 14" and I am working on getting diameter down to 12.5, a little at a time. Right now on my new Bender cue I am down to 12.8 and going lower, although I did notice a monster improvement in playability from 13.0 to 12.8. (This required two shaft adjustments) My old Bender which I just sold was down to 12.4. So I expect I will be whittling on the new Bender for a while.

I only work on one shaft at a time and suggest you do the same and yes I am encouraging you to reduce the diameter. I am not a collector and want a cue to play up to its potential. We each have our own preference for ferrule diameter and tapers so I suggest you go the direction you want a little at a time.

OH and I think that you will have less problems with your shaft warping if you take it down 1MM at a time. That might be overkill but that's what I like to do. So far no warp.

BTW, you could send it back to Mike Bender and I'm sure he would turn one of your shafts down to whatever dimension you want.
JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Don, the hard part about finding a shaft for a Bender cue is the unusual pin he uses. No one out there uses anything that is remotely similar. I think Mike makes a tremendous cue, but I have never understood why he picked a pin that was so unique. I will listen around, but I am not sure who might have the correct 3/8x14 (I think that is right) tap to make a shaft. $250 may sound like a lot for a shaft, but that is getting to be more and more the standard from top cuemakers. A lot of times, and I have heard this from more than one top cuemaker, is that they really don't like making shafts. So if you want one, you're going to have to pay for it.

Good luck, Jim

I believe Mike Bender designed and manufactured his own pin and it may be one of the reasons that I like his cues. The threads are always very snug even tight at times depending on the humidity. By the way Tracey Dunham works with Mike on all of THEIR cues. (husband and wife team)
JoeyA

 

[findcue4u]

shafts

i have 2 bender shafts with tapers the have ivory ring work i would sell for 100.oo

 

[vicdotcom]

Tell me what cuemaker would warranty someone else's shaft not to warp when turned smaller and would be willing to buy another Bender shaft to replace it with for $250. Nobody will do something crazy like that but I think the way to go is just turn down one shaft and try it, If you don't like it now you don't have much too lose.--Leonard

Exactly my point Thats why I wouldnt recommend having someone else change the taper. Its risky all arround.

Vic